What Do You Want Freedom From?

8 Apr

We all talk about wanting freedom - but freedom from what?

Not long ago, I asked a client this very question. She paused, looked down, and softly said, “I want freedom from my own thoughts.” That moment struck me. Because for so many of us, the greatest prison isn’t the world outside - it’s the noise within.

The Invisible Shackles We Wear

We often seek freedom externally - freedom from deadlines, responsibilities, toxic environments, or financial pressure. But underneath these surface desires lies something deeper:

• The need to be free from self-doubt.

• The desire to let go of people-pleasing.

• The longing to escape overthinking, comparison, or the pressure to prove ourselves.

These are the invisible shackles. And they are exhausting.

In the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains that the mind creates bondage through attachments, aversions, and false identities. Modern neuroscience agrees - when we ruminate or stay trapped in old patterns, our brain reinforces neural loops that hold us back from growth and peace.

So the real question is not just what you want freedom from, but also: Who would you be without these limitations?

Freedom Begins with Awareness

The first step to inner freedom is awareness. This is echoed in the Leadology Self Mastery framework - clarity is the seed of transformation.

Ask yourself:

• What thoughts run on autopilot in my mind every day?

• What emotional loops keep me reacting the same way?

You can’t change what you can’t see. But once you bring awareness to these patterns, something powerful happens: you begin to loosen their grip.

You Are Not Your Thoughts

Sri Sri reminds us that you are not your mind. You are the observer of the mind - the seer behind the scenes. When you start identifying with that deeper presence, you gain the ability to choose your response rather than react.

Science backs this up. Through mindfulness practices, the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and regulation) becomes stronger. This gives you more agency over your life.

You start shifting from:

• Reactivity to response.

• Chaos to clarity.

• Survival to purposeful living.

Practical Freedom Tools

If you’re ready to start freeing yourself from internal limitations, here are a few simple but powerful practices:

1. Label Your Thoughts

Pause during the day and label what’s happening in your mind: “judging,” “planning,” “worrying.” Labelling weakens identification.

2. Breathe with Intention

Your breath is your remote control. Try this: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6. Just 3 rounds can calm your nervous system and clear your mind.

3. Svadhaya (Self-Reflection) Practice

Journal each night:

• What did I feel triggered by today?

• What belief did that reaction reveal?

4. Reframe One Limiting Belief

Take one thought that holds you back (e.g. “I’m not good enough”) and ask:

What is the cost of believing this?

What would my life look like if I let this go?

5. Get Support

Sometimes, we need a guide to help us see what we can’t. A coach, a teacher, or a supportive community can help you shift deeply ingrained mental habits.

Let This Be the Year You Free Yourself

Freedom isn’t a destination. It’s a practice - a return to your true self, again and again.